During an Emergency, Stay calm.

Don’t assume more qualified people will respond. Sorenson had only been a nurse six months before she responded to save the pilot. Two physicians on the plane with Herrick deferred the care of the patient to the seasoned critical care nurse.

 

Intervene.

Give first aid to people who are injured.  Take care of life-threatening situations first.  Get help if necessary.  Nurses must always act reasonably within the scope of their practice, knowledge, skills and abilities.  Render aid according to the current basic or advance life support guidelines.

 

Consider the limitations of equipment. Alter care as needed in the tight space.

 

Move the patient into the aisle or the galley area.  Assessment with a stethoscope can be difficult; you may have to palpate the systolic blood pressure.  Portable oxygen may only have two fixed settings: low flow (2 lpm) and high flow (4 lpm).  AEDs may not have an ECG screen, making it difficult to select the appropriate ACLS algorithm.  Blood glucose monitoring may not be available. 

 

Provide privacy as much as possible.

Remember to observe The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This act on privacy applies both during and after the crisis, as people may unknowingly divulge patient information. For example, a passenger on the plane took and posted a video of the rescue aboard the United Flight 1637. You may have to appoint someone to act as a privacy officer.

 

After: Evaluate

Evaluate your performance and preparation. Replace any supplies used to prepare for the next emergency.

 

Evaluate the event. 

Identify the positive and negative aspects of your decision whether to intervene.  Examine your feelings, thoughts, and response and any effect on your personal and work life.  Monitor yourself for post-traumatic symptoms.  Seek guidance or additional support to cope with stress related to the incident.  HIPPA makes it very difficult to follow up on your patient.  Many have trouble dealing with not knowing the final outcome.       

 

Remember to ensure patient privacy, even amid the clamor of reporters. 

 

I noticed Sorenson, the less experienced nurse, divulged much more patient information in her interviews than the more seasoned Alweiss.  Also, resist any rewards as the Good Samaritan Law protects volunteer responders and not those who are compensated.  Who is to say what “compensation” is?  

 

In conclusion, we must celebrate such nursing heroes.  We must prepare for the unexpected so that we too may shine using our clinical skills outside our nursing shift and in emergencies.

 

References

. American Nurses Association. (2001). Code of Ethics With Interpretive Statements. Retrieved from http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics.pdf

. NY Daily News. (2014). Nurse’s 'heroic' effort saves pilot after he falls ill during flight.  Retrieved from http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/nurse-saves-pilot-falls-ill-flight-article-    1.1577741 utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nydnrss%2Flatino+%28Latino%29

. Nursing practice and peer-reviewed clinical research for all nurses.  (2008). Would you stop to provide care?  Retrieved from http://www.nursingtimes.net/would-you-stop-to-provide-care/1866313.article